Silk Painting Basics & Tips
Many folks are intimidated by the thought of silk painting but in reality it is a really fun and very forgiving art form. There are aspects of it that do require time and practice to learn, but getting started (and hooked) is very easy. Here are some basics to get you going…
What you need – Silk fabric, silk dyes or or anything else you can think of to apply the dye or paint. You will also need to purchase or make yourself a stretcher frame to stretch and suspend your silk if you want to paint detailed images. If you are going for a more abstract, free form look then a plastic covered table can work too.
Step 1: Pre-wash
Wash your silk with Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent (a drop of dish detergent will work in a pinch). Rinse and dry; while the silk is still slightly damp, press with an iron, set to the silk setting. Pre-washing is important especially when working with dyes because invisible residue from handling and/or manufacture can show up on the silk after you apply the dye, and ruin your design.
Step 2:Making a stretching frame
We sell an adjustable silk stretching system but there are also other options for stretching silk. Canvas stretcher bars work very well. They are sold at most art supply stores in different lengths, in pairs. Make sure that the inside measurements of the bars, assembled, are at least 2-3 inches larger (on each side) than the silk scarf. For small pieces, you could use a picture frame as a stretcher, or you could build your own frame with wood. You could also cut out a frame from a cardboard box, again, 2-3 inches larger than your silk (on each side).
Step 3: Stretching your silk
Stretch your silk onto your frame with stainless steel pushpins or
silk thumbtacks every 4-6 inches along each side. Another method is to use rubber bands and safety pins, silk clips, or Chinese Suspension Hooks. Attach small safety pins, clips, or hooks connected to rubber bands to the edges of the silk, every 4–6 inches; the rubber band then goes around a push pin which pins into your frame). If need be, you can link rubber bands together for extended lengths. The advantage of the rubber band method mentioned above is that the elasticity of the rubber bands will maintain the tension of the silk for you. The goal when stretching your silk is to create just the right amount of tension so that the silk remains taut while you are painting but not so tight that it tears. Your piece may have a tendency to sag a bit once it becomes wet with dye or paint; you may need to adjust the pinning as you are painting. Your frame also needs to be suspended a few inches above your table so that the silk does not have anything touching it; you can do this by placing upside down plastic cups or wood blocks underneath each corner of your frame.
Step 4: Choose your Technique!
The following represents the two most popular techniques for silk painting although you are by no means limited to these. As you get more familiar with silk painting you will see that you have many, many options for creating wonderful textures and effects on your silk. If you feel you need a bit more inspiration or information before you get started we suggest getting some instructional materials on the subject. You can browse our great selection of Silk Painting books and DVD’s here.
The Serti (closing the fence) technique – This is the silk painting technique where designs are formed with gutta or water-based resists which are applied with a fine tipped applicator to silk that has been pre-washed, dried and stretched (on a stretcher). Once the gutta or water-based resist has dried, it acts as a barrier for the dye or paint—keeping the color within the outlined areas of the design and allowing you to achieve sharply defined borders. (Without this barrier, the dye or paint would flow into more of an abstract, undefined pattern.) After the dye or paint has been properly set, the clear gutta or resist is removed and a defining line the color of the original fabric remains. Colored guttas and resists are also available that are meant to remain in the fabric.
Free hand, watercolor or “wet on wet” techniques - Dyes or paints are applied to the silk with a paintbrush, mist sprayer, eyedropper, or other tools to achieve abstract effects. Spraying the silk lightly with water before adding color increases the flow of the dye or paint. Sprinkling silk salt on the piece when still wet, and leaving till completely dry before brushing off the salt, produces interesting textural effects. Applying alcohol to dye-painted silk also creates beautiful effects. Experiment and enjoy.
Step 5: Fix (make permanent) your dye or paint
Setting silk paints with heat - Allow to dry 24 hours before heat-setting the paints with an iron, 2-3 minutes on each area of your piece, face down on your ironing board with a press cloth between the silk and your iron. You may also want a protective cloth on the ironing board as well. Work in small areas at a time, moving in a small circular motion so as not to burn the silk, but also so that each section maintains the heat for a long enough duration to actually set the paint.
Steam-setting silk dyes - Silk dyes are made permanent by subjecting them to a heated, semi-pressurized, steam filled environment. Dharma sells two professional steamers that are perfect for folks who work on larger pieces of silk but it’s very easy to build your own homemade stovetop or stovepipe steamers from stuff you probably already have on hand.
You can find detailed instructions and illustrations for making your own here. Let your painted piece rest for a day or so before steam setting.
After the silk has rested, place it on a piece of blank newsprint or muslin a few inches larger than the silk itself. Place another piece of same material on top of the silk and roll the silk “sandwich” into a tube then coil the tube into a “jelly roll” shape; secure the whole thing with string or rubber bands. Make sure the roll isn’t too tight. You will need to protect the bundle from dripping condensation or pooling water during steaming. The point is to allow the steam to penetrate the silk bundle without allowing the silk to actually get wet. Make sure the wrinkles are smoothed out before rolling and coiling; steaming can make winkles permanent too. Depending on the dye you’ve used your steam time will range between 1 and 4 hours. Follow the specific manufacturers instructions for each product.
Step 6: Rinse and wash
After the silk has been steamed and the bundle is cool enough to handle, it’s time to unwrap it. Silk that has been painted with a silk paint must be heat set before rinsing and washing. Rinse the silk under cool running water to get the excess dye or paint out. Follow this step with a gentle hand wash with Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent (in a pinch you can use a mild dish soap) You can pat the silk partially dry and then iron it while its still a bit damp to restore the sheen. Voila!
